Hydrocarbon-motor



L. K. SNELL.

HYDROCARBON MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 1, I916.

Patented 0m 4, 1921 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LYLE x.

SNELL, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO CADILLAC MOTOR CAR COM- I "PANY, OF, DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

HYDROCARBON-MOTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 4, 1921.

Application filed December 1, 1916. Serial No. 134,516.

To' all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LYLE K. SNELL, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Detroit, Wayne county, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Irn rovements in Hydrocarbon-Motors, of whlch the following is a specification.

This invention relates to hydrocarbon motors, and particularly to pressure systems and regulating devlces adapted for use therewith.

One of the objects of this invention is to overcome the disadvantages and uncertainties of operation attending theme of previously constructed regulating valve mechanisms. In regulating devices which have been previously provided for maintaining relatively low pressures which necessitate the use of very sensitive closing means, such as springs, considerable difiiculty has been experienced in successfully operating the valve mechanism when abnormal resistance is encountered in the operation of the valve member, such as when dirt or other obstructions lodge between the valve parts.

To overcome these and other difliculties, I have provided a regulating device which is adapted to automatically increase or vary its operating action to automatically handle variable conditions.

In my preferred form, I utilize a'valve mechanlsm comprising a resilient chamber, the interior of which is subject to the pressure to be controlled and the exterior thereof exposed to atmospheric pressure, the arrangement being such that the valve mechanism is adapted to be operated by resilient and pressure means, the latter means being variable, with a change in relation of atmospherie pressure to the pressure within the chamber.

These, and other objects will appear from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a more or less diagrammatic side elevation of a motor vehicle power plant embodying this invention; and

Fig. 2 1s a vertical sectional view of a preferred form of regulating device.

Referring to the drawings, 10 is one of a pair of frame side members, on which may be suitably mounted a motor 11 and fuel tank 12. An air pump 13 of any well known form ma .be suitably mounted on and driven rom the front end of the motor 11. A pair of connected con- .duits 14 and 15, conduct the air generated by the pump 13 to the fuel tank 12. Another conduit 16 is adapted to carry the fuel from the tank to the motor carbureter 17 Arranged at the lowest point in the pressure line and suitably mounted on a frame cross member 18 as by bolts 19, is a regulating device 20.

This device comprises a stationary lower end wall 21, a corrugated resilient collapsible side wall 22 preferably formed of metal, and an upper end wall 23. The lower wall 21 is provided with an inlet port 24 in constant communication with a pipe 25, which is connected at the union 26 with the pressure line 14, 15. The inlet port 24 is connected with branched passages 27 and 28. The passage 27 leads to the interior or pressure chamber 29 of the regulator, and the passage 28 leads to a relief or outlet port 30. A valve member 31 is adapted tocontrol the area of the port 30. A very light spiral spring 32 may be arranged between the collar 33 of the valve member 31, and the shoulder 34, formed in the cup 35, the spring being adapted to raise thevalve member 31. A limiting member or rod 36 may be adjustably mounted as by threads 37 in the upper wall 23 and fixed in position by the locking members 38. A cap or shell regulator is adjusted, result in the extension axially of the side wall 22 and the raising of the end wall 23 of the regulator, thereby lifting the member 36 upwardly and perlnitting the spring 32 to lift the valve member 31 from the seat of the port 30, and the excess pressure will be discharged from the ,1 thereby discharged through the relief port 30. If, after the pressure within the chamber 29 is diminished below that for which.

the regulator is adjusted, and on account of dirt or other obstructions lodged between the valve member 31 and the port 30, the light spring action of the tubular wall 22 is insuflicient to close the port 30, the pressure within the chamber 29 will continue to diminish, thus changing the relation of atmosphere pressure to the pressure within the chamber. That is to say, as the pressure within the chamber decreases, the atmospheric pressure will exert an increasing closing action on the valve 31 through the end wall 22. It will also be noted that the lower end of the rod 36 merely abuts againstthe shoulder 33 of the valve mechanism, thereby permitting free lateral movements between these parts.

It will be noted that the pressure relief alve is located in the air feed line at the lowest level thereof with the relief opening arranged in such a manner that any condensation occurring in the air line will be relieved to' the atmosphere and not permitted to enter the fuel tank. This is a decided advantage where the air line is comparatively long and of small tubing, especially in cold weather when the atmosphere is heavily charged with vapor and condensation of the same is liable to occur and even entirely freeze up the air supply line.

While I have described and will specifically claim what I deem to be a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope hereof. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v

1. A regulator comprising a collapsible side wall, a stationary end wall, and a movable connection therewith.

able end wall, said stationary wall having anintake port and an outlet port, a valve for said outlet port, and means on said movable wall for controlling the action of said valve, said means being adjustable in relation to said valve and having laterally mov- 2. In combination with a pipe line having aregulator arranged thereln at its lowest level, said regulator comprising a resilient collapsible side wall, a stationary lower end wall and a movable upper end wall, means connecting said ipe with the interior of said regulator, sald stationary wall having a port at the lowest point thereof, exhausting to the atmosphere a valve for controlling communication with said port, and adjustable means movable with said upper wall for regulating said valve.

3. In combination with a pipe line, a pressure regulator comprising a lower stationary end wall, a. movable upper end wall, and a resilient expansible and collapsible side wall extending between and the ends of which are secured one to said stationary and the other to said movable wall; a passage through which said pipe line is placed in the interior of said pres sure regulator; a passage formed in said lower end wall and through which said pipe line is placed in communication with the external atmosphere; a valve for controlling the fiow through said last mentioned passage; and means carried by said movable wall and operatively connected with said valve for controlling the same.

4. In combination with a pipe line, a pressure regulator comprising a lower stationary end wall, a movable upper end wall, and a resilient expansible and collapsible side wall extending between and the ends of which are secured one to said stationary and the other to said movable wall; a passage formed in said lower end wall and leading into the interior of said pressure regulator and with which said pipe line communicates; a passage formed in said lower end wall and through which said pipe line is placed in communication with the external atmosphere; a valve for controlling the flow through said last mentioned passage; a spring operatively connected with said valve and tending to open the same; and a rod carried by said movable wall and adapted to engage said valve to thereby close the same.

5. A pressure regulator comprising a lower stationary end wall, a movable upper end Wall, and a corrugated expansible and collapsible side the ends of which are secured one to said stationary and the other to said movable wall; a passage provided in said .lower wall and extending into the interior of said pressure regulator; a passage provided in said end wall and through which said pipe line thereof is placed in communication with the external atmosphere; a cup or guide carried by said lower wall and extending upwardly therefrom; a valve adapted to control the flow through said last mentioned passage and which valve is provided with a collar at its upper end adapted to move within said guide; a spring located within said guide and acting upon said collar and tending to open said valve; and a rod carried by said movable wall and the lower end of which is in engagement with said collar to thereby close said valve upon downward movement of said rod.

6. In combination with an air pipe line,

a ressure re lator com risin a station- P g wall extending between and other to said movabl wall; a passage through which "said pipe line is placed in communication with the interior of said pressure regulator; a discharge passage formed in one of said end Walls and leading from the interior of said pressure regulator to the external atmosphere; and valve mechanism opera :{l by said movable end Wall for controlling the flow from the interior of said pressure regulator through the discharge passage aforesaid to the external atmosphere.

7. In combination with an air pipe line,

. a pressure regulator located" at the lowest point of said pipe line and comprising a lower stationary end wall, a movable upper end wall, and a corrugated expansible and collapsible side wall extending between and the ends of which are secured oneto'said stationary and the other to said movable wall; a passage formed in said lower Wall and through which a communication is established from said pipe line to the interior of said pressure regulator; a passage formed in said lower end wall and through which pipe line is placed in communication with the external atmosphere; a valve for controlling the fiow through said last mentioned passage; and means the operation of which is dependent upon movement of said movable wall for controlling the operation of said valve.

8. In combination with an air pipe line, a pressure regulator located at the lowest point of said pipe line and comprising a lower stationary end wall, a movable upper end wall,

and a corrugated expansible and collapsible side wall extending between and the ends of which are secured one to said stationary and the other to said movable wall; a passage formed in said lower wall and through which a communication is established from said pipe line to the interior of said pressure regulator; a discharge passage formed in said lower end wall and leading from the interior of said pressure regulator to the external atmosphere; a valve for controlling the flow through said discharge passage; a spring supported by said lower end wall and operatively connected with said valve and tending to open the same; and means the operation of which is dependent upon movement of said movable wall for closing said valve,

9. The combination with a pipe of a regulator comprising an end wall having an outlet port, a valve for controlling said port, and pressure responsive means for actuating said valve, said wall provided with a passage leading from the pipe to the outlet port and ada'ted to drain liquid from the pipe and wit a passage for communicating to the pressure responsive means the pressure existin in said pipe.

10. n a pressure regulator, an expansible chamber comprising relatively movable end walls and a collapsible side wall, an outlet port in one end wall and a valve therefor, means carried by the other end wall not connected to the valve but adapted to actuate the same in one direction, and a, pipe line having communication with said chamber and arranged to discharge through said outlet port.

In testimony whereof I aflix my si nature.

LYLE K. S LL. 

